Office of Consumer Relations

The Alabama Office of Consumer and
Ex-Patient Relations was established in 1990. It was the first
office of its kind in the nation. The purpose of the office is to infuse
the consumer perspective into the decision-making process and management
of the Division of Mental Illness Services of the Alabama Department of Mental
Health. The Office of Consumer Relations
works closely with consumers, consumer operated programs, advocacy and
self-help organizations around the state.

The Office of Consumer Relations also
provides a toll free line for consumers to call the office. This
line provides access to information on the various mental illnesses,
information on starting a support group, information on available mental
health services, upcoming events, and technical assistance. This
line provides a central contact point for consumers around the state, to
contact the department to help them navigate the often complicated
mental health system. The line is also there for consumers when they
just need someone to talk to.

The Office of Consumer Relations also provides training
on consumer sensitivity, the consumer perspective and recovery, to
consumer groups, caregivers, law enforcement and the general public.

IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS OR EVENTS

The RESPECT Awards

At the Recovery Conference each year the
Office of Consumer Relations presents the RESPECT Awards. RESPECT
awards are presented to caregivers, whether professional, family,
friend, or fellow consumers, who are consistently respectful to persons
with a mental illness. The winners are selected by a panel of
consumers. The RESPECT Award has become a high honor for those who are
involved in mental illness activities in Alabama. To find
out how to nominate someone for this award, contact the Office of
Consumer Relations.

2010 RESPECT Award Winners

Danny Hall

Melissa Hiley

Hazel Moore

Jamerson Baker

Andrea Williams

Dawn Price

Doris Holmes

Dr. James Wall

Kristi Myricks

Lori Bethune

Kathleen Miller

Lynda Bice

Brenda Evans

Barbara Tidmore

Glenda Wilson

Dr. James Reeder

Cathy Fleming

Lillian Butler

The Hope Award

The Hope Award is also presented each year at the Annual Alabama
Recovery Conference. The Hope Award is given to an individual who does
the most to unify the various stakeholders in the mental illness arena,
consumers, family members, the Alabama Department of Mental Health and the
community mental health centers.

Previous Hope Award Winners

1993 Joel Slack

1994 Emmett Poundstone

1995 Rogene Parris

1996 David Cannon

1997 Sandra Wimmer

1998 Patricia Martin

1999 Sharon Mason

2000 Roy Willingham

2001 The Visionary Guild

2002 Kathy Sawyer

2004 Shocco Springs Conference Center

2008 John Houston

2009 Molly Brooms

The Alabama Directions Council

The Alabama Directions Council serves as
the advisory board to the Office of Consumer Relations. It plays a
major role in planning the consumer movement in
Alabama. The Directions Council also plans
the Annual Recovery Conference and selects the RESPECT Award winners.
The Council is made up of the leaders of the self-help/support groups
and drop-in centers from around the state, statewide consumer operated
programs and the Consumer Support Specialist Program.

Certified Peer Support Specialist Program

The Alabama Department of Mental Health
first established the position of peer support
specialist in 1994 at Greil Hospital. In
2002 the program was expanded to the rest of the state mental illness
facilities. In 2007 the department began expanding peer support
into the community by a certification program which will allow peer
specialist services to be Medicaid billable.

A peer support specialist is a person who
experienced mental illness themselves, working within a state mental
illness facility or community mental health center. They assist
individuals who are receiving treatment to regain control over their
lives and pursue recovery from their mental illness.